Haynes goes green with a $2 million renovation

Haynes Furniture has completed a $2 million project that renovates its front façade and incorporates sustainable design into the big-box store.
The work was done at the company’s 327,000-square-foot flagship store at 5324 Virginia Beach Blvd. in Virginia Beach. Leading the project was green architecture firm Hays + Ewing Design Studio, based out of Charlottesville.

“Since Haynes introduced large-volume furniture retailing in 1973, the big-box store has become ubiquitous,” architect Allison Ewing, a principal in the firm, said in a statement. “In working with the team at Haynes, we sought to create a model that would show how large stores can contribute to the streetscape in a positive way,”

Hedges will eventually mask new green sections along the store’s 500-foot white façade. That vegetation, as well as trees and native plantings added to the parking lot, will absorb rainwater to reduce run-off.
The building also has a new high albedo roof, which reflects radiation and reduces energy consumption.

Hayne’s exterior and interior got a new look with the creation of a three-dimensional trellis-style entrance with large windows. “They are high-performance, so they let daylight in without allowing heat to penetrate,” Ewing said. “Daylight imparts such a sense of wellbeing. Our goal was to create a sense of walking through sun-dappled woods as you enter the building.”

E.J. Strelitz, president of Haynes Furniture, likes the renovation. “We’re very pleased with how our flagship store has been transformed, and we are considering incorporating these elements into other Haynes locations,” he said.

Strelitz noted that the environmentally friendly redesign complements another recent step by Haynes. “Much of the furniture we offer through our ‘Other Side of Haynes’ lifestyle area is made of repurposed wood and metal, further showing how design can help the environment and convey style at the same time.”